4 Western Education

EVOLUTION OF EDUCATION IN Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy: 19th

Century Debates
COLONIAL INDIA
Anglicists advocated an exclusive focus on
modern studies, while Orientalists emphasized
Company Rule and Initial Educational
the expansion of traditional Indian learning.
Initiatives There was a disagreement on the medium of
Until 1813, the East India Company showed
instruction among Anglicists. One faction was
minimal interest in education, focusing primarily
for the English language as the medium, while
on trade. However, some individual initiatives took
the other faction was for Indian languages
place:
(vernaculars) for the purpose.
Calcutta Madrasah (1781): Established by
Warren Hastings for the study of Muslim law
Lord Macaulay’s Minute (1835)
and related subjects.
Lord Macaulay held the view that “Indian
Sanskrit College (1791): Founded by Jonathan
learning was inferior to European learning”.
Duncan in Benaras for Hindu law and
It settled in favour of Anglicists. English
philosophy.
became the medium in schools and colleges,
Fort William College (1800): Established by
neglecting mass education and government
Wellesley to train Company civil servants in
resources dedicated to Western sciences and
Indian languages and customs (closed in 1802).
literature.
By the early 19th century, enlightened Indians and
It planned to educate a small section of upper
missionaries pressured for modern, secular, and
middle classes who would act as interpreters
Western education to address various societal
and be “Indian in blood and colour but English
issues. The British government responded with
in tastes, in opinions, in morals and in
initiatives driven by their own interests.
intellect”. This was known as the Downward
Filtration Theory.
Charter Act of 1813: A Modest Beginning
It incorporated the principle of promoting
Thomson’s Village Education (1843-53)
knowledge of modern sciences in the country.
James Thomson (lieutenant governor of North-
It directed the company to sanction an annual
West Provinces) introduced vernacular-based
allocation of one lakh rupees for education.
village education, teaching practical subjects
There was delayed Implementation due to a
to Revenue and Public Works Department
lack of fund allocation until 1823.
personnel.
Raja Rammohan Roy’s efforts led to a grant
being sanctioned for Calcutta College, which
was set up in 1817 by educated Bengalis,
imparting English education in Western
humanities and sciences.
The government also set up three Sanskrit
colleges at Calcutta, Delhi, and Agra.
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Wood’s Despatch (1854): The Magna Carta Recommendations
of English Education Focus on extending primary education in
vernacular languages.
It was the first comprehensive plan for the
Transfer primary education control to district
spread of education in India. It asked the
and municipal boards.
Government to assume responsibility for mass
Divide secondary education into literary
education. It rejected the ‘downward filtration
(university-oriented) and vocational
theory’.
(commercial careers).
Systematized Hierarchy of Vernacular primary
Highlight inadequate female education and
schools in villages at the bottom, followed by
gender equality, especially outside presidency
Anglo - Vernacular High Schools and affiliated
towns.
colleges at the district level, and affiliating
Developments Post-1882
universities in Calcutta, Bombay and Madras.
Rapid growth and expansion of secondary and
English medium for higher studies, vernaculars
collegiate education.
at the school level.
Establishment of teaching-cum-examining
Stress on female and vocational education
universities, e.g., Punjab University (1882) and
with emphasis on teacher training.
Allahabad University (1887).
Education in government institutions to be
secular.
Recommended grants-in-aid to encourage Indian Universities Act, 1904
private enterprise. Raleigh Commission (1902): Evaluated
university conditions and suggested
Post-Wood’s Despatch Developments improvements; excluded primary and
secondary education.
(Late 19th Century)
Recommendations:
1857: Universities established in Calcutta,
Prioritize study and research.
Bombay, and Madras.
Reduce university fellows; increase
1849: Bethune School founded by J.E.D.
government nominations.
Bethune in Calcutta, promoting girls'
Government gained veto power over
education with government support.
university regulations.
Technical Institutes: Agriculture Institute at
Stricter conditions for private college
Pusa (Bihar) and Engineering Institute at
affiliations.
Roorkee established.
Sanction ₹5 lakh annually for higher
Wood’s Despatch (19th Century): Led to
education improvements.
Westernization of education with European-
Curzon's Justification: Measures aimed at
run institutions.
quality and efficiency, but intended to restrict
Missionary and Private Efforts: Gradually
education and ensure loyalty.
emerged to support education.
Nationalist Reaction: Viewed as a move to
Post-Crown Takeover: Recognized need for
strengthen imperialism; Gokhale called it a
educational reform, shaping colonial India's
"retrograde measure."
educational trajectory.

Government Resolution on Education

Hunter Education Commission (1882–83)
Policy (1913)
In 1882, the government W.W. Hunter Commission
Baroda’s compulsory primary education (1906)
to review the progress of education in the country
influenced national leaders’ advocacy for reform
since the Despatch of 1854. The Hunter
in education. Along with Gokhale’s Resolution of
Commission mostly confined its
1910 for compulsory primary education led to
recommendations to primary and secondary
provisions:
education.
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Gokhale’s Resolution of 1910 Education Under Dyarchy
Compulsory primary education in areas with at Government transferred education
least 35% of 6-7 year-old boys receiving responsibility to provincial ministries under
instruction. Montagu-Chelmsford reforms.
State governments and local authorities to Government grants discontinued, hindering
determine education costs. growth, but education increased due to
Establishment of a separate central government charitable initiatives.
education department for compulsory
education. Hartog Committee (1929)
Appointment of an Education Secretary to Primary Education:
monitor progress and prepare budget reports. Identified shortcomings and recommended
Resolution withdrawn on government government control and inspection.
assurance. Suggested adapting school timings and
curriculum to local conditions.
Accepted the policy to remove illiteracy; urged Proposed refresher courses and training for
provinces to provide free elementary education teachers.
for poor and backward sections. Increased number and efficiency of school
Encouraged private efforts; emphasized inspections.
improving secondary school quality. Primary schools to serve as community
Proposed establishing a university in each centers.
province. Secondary Education:
For women's education: Criticized examination-oriented system.
Practical utility curriculum for girls. Advocated diversified curriculum including
Exams for girls not given much importance. industrial and commercial subjects.
Increase in women teachers and inspectors. Higher Education:
Recommended establishing affiliated
universities, improving libraries, and opening
Sadler University Commission (1917-19)
honours courses.
Chairman: Michael Sadler
Emphasized developing learned, liberal-
Purpose: Study and report on Calcutta
minded individuals.
University; recommendations applicable to
Women’s Education:
other universities.
Equal importance for boys’ and girls’
Scope: Reviewed from school to university
education.
education.
More primary schools for girls; practical
Key Recommendations:
curriculum in secondary schools.
12-year school course; students to enter
Increase in women teachers and inspectors.
university after an intermediate stage.
Separate board for secondary and
intermediate education.
Sargent Plan of Education (1944)
Less rigidity in university regulations.
Free Pre-Primary Education: Ages 3-6, trained
Centralized universities as autonomous
women teachers.
bodies.
Universal Compulsory Education: Ages 6-14,
Emphasis on improving secondary education
emphasis on learning and physical training.
for university development.
High School Education: Six-year course from age
Extend female education, applied scientific
11, academic and vocational streams, mother
and technological education, and teachers’
tongue as the medium with compulsory English.
training.

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University Education: Three-year degree course Wardha Scheme of Basic Education (1937)
post-higher secondary, abolish intermediate 'Learning through activity', based on Gandhi’s
course, improve standards and admissions, ideas in Harijan.
financial assistance for poor students. Free and Compulsory Education: For ages 7 to
Teacher Quality: Competent teachers, improved 14.
service conditions, high standards in Curriculum: Included basic handicrafts, taught
postgraduate studies and research. in mother tongue, and Hindi in non-Hindi areas.
Central Organization: Set up akin to the Community Engagement: Fostered through
University Grants Committee of England to service strategies.
coordinate university activities. Subjects: Mathematics, general science, social
Adult Education: Eliminate adult illiteracy in 20 studies, painting, music, physical education;
years, medical check-ups in schools, special excluded religious and moral education.
education for the physically handicapped, and Impact: Limited due to WWII and resignation of
employment bureaus. Congress ministries in 1939.

Educational Institutions
School/College Year Founder Objective
Calcutta 1781 Warren Hastings To teach Muslim laws
Madrassa Asiatic 1784 William Jones To encourage oriental studies
Society of Ben- gal
Sanskrit College 1791 Jonathan Duncan To study Hindu philosophy and laws
College of Fort William 1800 Lord Wellesley For the education of young recruits to
the Civil Service
Hindu College 1817 David Hare Raja To promote of modern education
English school 1817 Rammohun Roy Raja
Vedanta College 1825 Rammohun Roy
School at Bhide Wada 1848 Mahatma Phule and Girls Education
Savitribai Phule
Bethune School 1849 Bethune Annette Girls Education
Hindu Mahila Vidyalaya 1873 Akroyd Girls Education
Bengal National College 1906 Satish Chandra Mukherjee
National Education and
other Indian national- ists

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